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Jun 17 2015 08:10am
So I'll be starting school in the fall, switched my major to software development. Does anyone have any advice/know any really good books I should read before hand? I'd like to soak in as much info as I can before heading to school.
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Jun 17 2015 08:52am
Start with java, as most schools use it as the first language.
Download and install eclipse and java sdk.
You'll probably be learning the following in the first semester, so get a head start and learn these topics...

variables - int, float, double, String
input / output - Scanner / System.out.println()
if statements
loops - while and for
arrays
object oriented programming - classes and instantiating class objects for example...
Code
class Person {
private int age;
private String name;
public Person( int age, String name ) {
this.age = age;
this.name = name;
}
public int getAge( ) {
return age;
}
public void setAge( int age ) {
this.age = age;
}
public String getName( ) {
return name;
}
public void setName( String name ) {
this.name = name;
}
}

Code
...
Person person = new Person(21, "Bob");


class inheritance - class Man extends Person{}
data structures - lists, maps, sets
try-catch block and exception handling
file input/output - Scanner
gui / applets

As for books, i used Introduction to Java Programming by Y. Daniel Liang which is a pretty good book, but you can find most of the information you need from google / youtube.

If you're really serious, you can watch free lectures from stanford university. https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=84A56BC7F4A1F852

This post was edited by labatymo on Jun 17 2015 08:53am
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Jun 17 2015 11:22am
Appreciate all the info! I'm definitely serious about this. I'm gonna check out everything more in depth in a few hours
Member
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Jun 20 2015 05:05am
instead of guessing try to find out which language you're going to use. it tends to be easy to find on your school site / google.
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Jun 20 2015 06:09am
Quote (normannen @ Jun 20 2015 05:05am)
instead of guessing try to find out which language you're going to use. it tends to be easy to find on your school site / google.


I can pick between

Java
Visual Basic
Python
C++
C#

Member
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Jun 20 2015 09:36am
Quote (Tuff_Guy2 @ Jun 20 2015 08:09am)
I can pick between

Java
Visual Basic
Python
C++
C#


google the hello world for each one, and pick whichever looks least intimidating.
Member
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Jun 20 2015 09:39am
Quote (carteblanche @ Jun 20 2015 10:36am)
google the hello world for each one, and pick whichever looks least intimidating.


Code
echo "Hello world!"


bash master race
Member
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Jun 20 2015 09:49am
Quote (Eep @ Jun 20 2015 11:39am)
Code
echo "Hello world!"


bash master race


i rarely used shell scripting until i got a mac at work. i got so frustrated trying to use "Finder" (aka Mac Explorer), so i was able to use the terminal much faster.
Member
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Jun 20 2015 10:05am
Quote (carteblanche @ Jun 20 2015 10:49am)
i rarely used shell scripting until i got a mac at work. i got so frustrated trying to use "Finder" (aka Mac Explorer), so i was able to use the terminal much faster.


yeah....we use copernic 4 over at work (desktop search), and it is so shit tbh.

I used FileSeek for awhile but didn't want to pay for it ><

This post was edited by Eep on Jun 20 2015 10:05am
Member
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Jun 23 2015 10:31am
Bump

I'm not sure which language to go towards. Which one is mostly used in businesses now a days? Or does it depend on what they do?
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